Rethinking Science A Philosophical Introduction to the Unity of Science

This title was first published in 2002.Science and humanity are usually seen as very different: the sciences of nature aim at explanations whereas the sciences of man seek meaning and understanding. This book shows how these contrasting descriptions fail to fit into a modern philosophical account of the sciences and the arts. Presenting some of the major ideas within the philosophy of science on facts, explanation, interpretation, methods, laws, and theories, Jan Faye compares various approaches, including his own. Arguing that the sciences of nature and the sciences of man share a common practice of acquiring knowledge, this book offers a unique introduction to key aspects in the philosophy of science.

Contents: Preface; The unity of the sciences; Reductionism, emergentism, and holism; Explanation; Interpretation; Facts; Methods; Laws and rules; Theories and models; Realism and antirealism; Beyond the sciences; Index.